Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1887-10-14
STATE n EWS.
Dynamite shells.
PROMISING INVENTION BY A VERMONT MAN
OF A NEW TOOL or WAR.

PROMISING INVENTION BY a VERMONT MAN
OF A NEW TOOL or WAR.
An interesting experiment was made on
the state arsenal grounds at Montpelier last
Tuesday with a new dynamite shell, invent
ed by Mr.. b. d. Stevens of Burlington
The gun used in firing the shells was "A
twelve FOUNDER brass Napoleon of the
same pattern rs those of the Fuller Battery
The proiccties fired consisted of twelve
pound spherical case shots containing in
stead of the the usual fixed ammunition, "A
half pound of dynamite. The projectile
force for each discharge consisted Of two
and one-half pounds of powder affixed to
the shell The invention consists of the
composition of the explosives and packing,
and the character and arrangement of the
springs or cushions used in the shell. The
shells are exploded by means of an ordinary
fuse, and the inventor claims that they can
not be burst either by the conclusion of the
exploding gunpowder, or by that when the
shell strikes. The shells only burst when
the set fuse has burned down to the charge
During Tuesdays test five shells were
thrown across the valley to the north of the
Sabin slate quarry, and each exploded at
the desired point, the length of time elaps-
ing being governed by the length of the
fuse. The first shell passed through tar
get made of two-inch plank, and penetrated
the ground a quarter of mile beyond,
when it exploded and scattered the earth i'll
all directions. The second shell struck a
mound of earth 20 feet in diameter, and
passed through il into the air and exploded.
The third and fourth shells struck u stone
wall, and after demolishing it by force of
conclusion burst into fragments little be
yond The fuse in the fifth shell was timed
TO one second, the result being that it burst
in mid-ar without coming into contact with
any obstacle The experiment was wit
messed by Gov Ormsbee, Lieut. Gov. Full
Ter, and other state officials and by several
army men. Last June Mr. Stevens gave
satisfactory test Of his invention ON the gov
eminent testing ground at Sandy Hook be-
fore an ordnance board of regular army Of
licers and he has now been invited to repeat
his test there
Mrs. Julia C. r. Dorr Of Rutland the
well known writer, and her son, Henry X.
Dorr, returned from Europe Saturday.
Mrs. Dorr passed the four months of her
tour in England, Scotland and France, de
voting much of her time 10 rural England
and Scotland.
The annual meeting of the Vermont State
Agricultural society will he held at the Van
Ness House. Burlington, Oct. q, at 10
o'clock a. NJ
The steam lumber mills belonging to l..
d. Hazen of st. Johnsbury, situated in
Victory, were burned Monday evening
Loss 500, 600 insured for 1000.
A very large block of granite is being
ouarried at Barre 10 be used in bank
vault in California 1t is % feet long, .
feet thick and feet wide, and is being
taken out by steam-power, IL will take 10
spans of horses to draw the big block to
the railroad station four miles away.
Judge Wheeler handed down in the Unit
ed STATES court at Rutland last week de-
cision in the important case of the receiver
of the First National bank of st, Adams
AGAINST Albert SoW!es and his asslgnees,
The receiver wins and will receive Sl0,OOO
in real estate and $1,000 in personal proper
ty An appeal 10 the United States su-
ureme court is discussed 10y the defendants
The marble saving mill at Beldens Falls,
two miles north of Middlebury, owned by
| f. w. Smith & Co. of Burlington was To-
tally burned Monday night The insurance
of Sl2 900 probably covers the loss
The citizens Of Springfield are endeaYyor-
ing TO raise $40 900, the stock required by
a large firm to have itdecide TO locate there
a large boot and shoe mandatory, the
| pav-roll 10 be 500 per week.
St. Johnsbury people are at work 70
raise $50, 900 10 secure the removal oil the
| Rutland shirt factory to their town
Daniel Badger of West Hartford drop,
! ned his lantern in the barn last week, and